Miami’s New Mayor: Affordability Crisis at the Heart of Democratic Strategy

After a Democrat was elected mayor of Miami this week for the first time in nearly 30 years, Democrats hope that race can be a blueprint for winning the midterm elections in 2026.

They believe focusing on affordability, just as Eileen Higgins did when she won the Miami mayoral race by double digits on Tuesday, will resonate with voters nationwide.

“This is going to help the Democratic Party and continue to make our case that the middle-class and working-class people in this country are tired of having to struggle every day to make ends meet, to be able to pay their bills,” Democratic National Committee finance chair Chris Korge said.

In her campaign for Miami mayor, Higgins voted to build more housing and said she heard complaints from small businesses dealing with tariffs or people paying $20 for hair extensions.

“Everybody’s talking about it,” Higgins stated.

During her first press conference after being elected, Higgins addressed affordability by saying the city must become more efficient and modern in how it embraces technology. “The affordability crisis, we are the tip of the spear in America,” she added. “We’ve got to build more affordable housing.”

According to Payscale, the cost of living in Miami is 21% higher than the national average, with housing costs at 59% above the national rate and utilities and groceries at 5% and 11% respectively. The median home price in Miami stands at $823,000, while the median monthly rent exceeds $2,400. Monthly energy bills cost nearly $218, according to Payscale.

Christian Ulver, Higgins’ campaign adviser, described her approach as offering “competent governance” and a “steady, technocratic approach.”

Higgins also rarely discussed President Donald Trump during her campaign. When addressing immigration issues, she shifted focus to a Florida law that requires cities to assist the federal government. She criticized the decision to build Trump’s presidential library in Miami, calling it a missed opportunity to replenish city coffers.

“We gave away very valuable land to a billionaire for free,” she said during a debate. “We could have sold that land, generated cash from that land, and paid for all the things they’ve cut — including food aid, affordable housing, and mass transit,” she added.

“How can our state be giving away money that we need to make our community better?”